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A 

JOURNEY 

FROM 

NEW YORK TO MONTREAL 

BY WAY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS 
AND NIAGARA FALLS 

IN THE YEAR 
1824 



PRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT 
IN THE POSSESSION OF 



FRANK D. ANDREWS 



VINELAND N. J. 
I 9 I 2 



A 

JOURNEY 

FROM 

NEW YORK TO MONTREAL 

BY WAY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS 
AND NIAGARA FALLS 

IN THE YEAR 
1824 



PRINTED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT 
IN THE POSSESSION OF 



PRANK D. ANDREWS 

Secretary Vineland Historical and Antiquarian 
Society 



VINELAND N. J. 
1912 



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PREFACE 

The manuscript record of a journey from New 
York to Montreal, by way of Saratoga Springs 
and Niagara Falls in 1824, is written on twenty- 
four pages of a memorandum or copy book of 
that period. The spelling of a few words have 
been corrected, otherwise the manuscript has 
been quite closely followed. 

The record seems to be of sufficient interest 
to put in printed form giving as it does an ac- 
count of a visit to the Indian settlements of the 
Buffalo and Tuscarora tribes, and an interesting- 
description of an election in Canada. 

The name of the writer of the manuscript or 
any member of the party who made the journey 
with him does not appear, he is, however, believ- 
ed to have been a resident of Philadelphia. 

The inconvenience to which the party were 
subjected by the slow method of travel in 1824 
presents a marked contrast to the rapidity, ease 
and comfort the route may be covered today. 

An edition of one hundred and ten copies only, 
have been printed, part of which will be distrib- 
uted to, or exchanged with historical societies 
and libraries. 

Frank D. Andrews 

ViNELAND, N. J. 

May 10, 1912 



A JOURNEY 

FROM 

NEW YORK TO MONTREAL 

BY WAY OF 

SARATOGA SPRINGS AND NIAGARA FALLS 

IN THE YEAR 1 824 

July 
At 6 on the morning of the 11 fwi-1824 we 

repair'd to the foot of Courtland Street &^ had the 
mortification to find that the Boat was cotnpletely 
filled & pushed off before the time appointed to 
avoid sinking with excess of passengers, we re- 
turned & had A comfortable breakfast, after 
which at 10 we got on Board the C Livingston 
& by the conveniences of the Boat & the politness 
of the Capt were amply repaid for the disaster 
of the morning. 

The course of the River: for abt 50 miles con- 
tinues straight & almost due north the shores 
alternately stoney sand & gravel the westen 
shores on passing New Jersey [6 & 8 Miles] is A 
continued Ridge the upper of which is formed of 
Stone as if regularly plan'd as A Barrier forbid- 
ing any communication between the water & land 
which from their Singular & regular appearance 
are called the palisades the whole height abt 250 
feet near this place I counted 42 Sail of River 
craft of A neat appearance on their way to & 
from market principally Sloops neat Buildings & 
V few that may be called bean ti full are to be 
ocen on the eastern shore near N Y. 

After passing up the River 50 miles it Bends 
10 the west & exhibits the most trulv Romantic 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 6 

Scenery that this or perhaps the Banks of ain- 
other River affords both sides especially the west 
present an ever varying suspicion of mountai-.i-; 
Ridges & mounds covered with Rich but low 
shrubbery which the scantiness of soil on the 
Rocks stunted in their growth. A great varit- ty 
& number of neat Buildings are to be seen on the 
shores where the mountain recedes tho' A very 
short distance from the River all of which have 
A small inclosure from A garden of a few feet 
square to A corn field of A tolerable size 

The Heights continue some distance above 
west point the site of this establishment is most 
appropriate if any effect can be produced by A 
rough & Bold Surface this spot is certainly cal- 
culated to inspire the young men that are per- 
suing their studies there with courage & enter 
prise corresponding with the Hills & resistless 
stream that flows at their Foot 

The lateness of the Boat this morning was the 
cause of irreparable loss to us as the night com- 
ing on the villages on the River side were hidden 
from us the River above the Town of new York 
is in wMdth ab't ^ of A mile & continues nearly 
the same to Albany A distance of 160 Miles no 
adequate Idea can be convey'd of the wSIopes & 
Steeps the cottages & Farm houses of the 
Towns & villages on this noble River by either 
pencil or pen The tide ebbs & flows above 
Albany The Town of Albany contains or is 
reputed to contain 15,000 inhabitants many 
Large Stores & Fine dwellings Some of the 
most ancient & singular Houses I have ever 
seen their date was to be seen on the front wall 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 7 

one of which was 17 14 & its whole appearance 
such as you will find in no other place in this 
Town we Saw the greatest number of Stages 
neat & good with good Horses than I ever be- 
held in any place 

At nine in the morning of the 12th we left 
Albany on our way to Saratoga & engaged the 
Stageman to go A little out of his direct road to 
get A view of the Cahoes' Fall on the Mohawk 
River this river is the size of Schuykill. the cas- 
cade is 40 feet& very percipitate from the Road 
about I Mile distant its appearance is that of A 
Body of Ice or Snow as we approach'd [for we 
left the Stage & walk'd through wood within % 
of A mile] the foaming of the water as it gush'd 
over the Rocks added the heights of the Rivers 
Banks on which we stood was Beautiful & cu- 
rious in the extreme 

By the Stage arrangement we were obliged to 
have an addition to our company & Invited Dr 
Nanirede & his wife who came in the Boat from 
N Y at the same time & were going to Saratoga, 
to join us which they did & proved A great ac- 
quisition to our party & hope our acquaintance 
will be lasting 

we reach'd the Springs before Tea hour & 
stop'd at the most considerble place of enter- 
tainment [Congress Hall] it is A Frame Build- 
ing the largest in the town of 200 feet Front 
& truly A House of many apartments. The 
Town of Saratoga is less than >^ mile in length 
there are 90 Houses & Stores on the main Street 
ten of which are Boarding Houses or Taverns 
for that purpose 3 or 4 of them is ai)OUt 100 lo 
200 feet Front 



8 NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 

we had 2 days of Rain in Succession but were 
not so much coneern'd about the weather as we 
had sufficient time to go to the Springs between 
Showers & were Ignorant of loss we should have 
sustained by A continuance of the Rain until 
we Join'd A party to see & to Fish in Saratoga- 
Lake seven miles from this place the Banks of 
the Lake do not exceed 30 feet in height they 
slope gently with sandy shores we can see Farms 
where abt A mile in width A few cultivated 
fields & A sufficiency of wood lands to Form 
such A Delightful Scenery that we could scarce- 
ly imagine any thing to Improve it 

the lake is 9 Miles in length & in widest place 
3 Miles its waters are remarkably transparent 
& abound with sun & other small Fish it emties 
into Round Lake & then into the noble Hudson 

On the morning of the i6th at 3 o Clock we by 
previous arrangement took Stage for Schenecta- 
dy & after Breakfast Hired an extra stage to 
Utica A distance of 80 Mile after A Ride before 
Breakfast of 23 miles Our course was due west 
by the side of the mohawk & the Grand canal 
we scarcely lost sight of either the whole day 

To give A Just Idea of this Beautiful River 
would be totally impossible It exhibits on its 
Sides every Kind of variety capable of being 
form'd by Earth Rock Trees & water some of 
the most delightful valleys & Islands of the 
greatest Fertility highly cultivated one of which 
reminds me of Blennerhassetts Island in the 
Tryal of Burr In some places the mountain 
recede A great distance & delights the beholder 
with Fine fields of waving Grain & as yet 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 xj 

but partially ting'd with the Golden color of 
Harvest & the grass is yet standing 

Suddenly the whole face of the country would 
change as if by magic & nothing but Rocks & 
hills & craggy steeps to be seen & the Road on 
to Top of A mountain from wJiich we look'd 
down A fearfull height at the River tumbling 
& Roaring over its Rough Bottom 

we at length arrived at Utica at >^ past ten 
after A Ride 103 Miles this day 

On the morning of the 17th we left Utica on 
the Grand canal which the humour of the Girls 
opposed yesterday 

We are now Gliding along on A Body of water 
abt 40 feet wide & 4^1^ in depth perfectly un- 
ruffled drawn by 3 Horses that walk on the 
Shore in A narrow Path at the rate of 4^2 miles 
the Hour the price 4 cts the mile for that sum 
we are well entertained A Good Table & Bed in 
comfortable cabin 

we have this moment passtd an acqueduct 30 
feet in height through which A creek passes 
the water of the canal Flowing over it we 
have pass'd several of less height over small 
streams this great work was urged on by A man 
of unusual energy & force of character none but 
he could have accomplish'd it against the oppo- 
sing efforts of A great part of the State who 
pronounc'd it A waste of treasure & A work of 
centuries DeWitt Clinton under whose controul 
members of the legislature were only cyphers in 
this great work has b^en after it is coniplet'd re- 
jected by them & despised & such is the falibili- 
ty of poor mortals that the same legislature after 



lO NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 

his Death will Raise A monument to his memory 
as the greatest man the nation has produced next 
Washington 

we arrived on this evening [19th Inst, at the 
Town of Batavia after A Ride of 50 Miles from 
Rochester where we left the canal & had the 
satisfaction to find our esteem'd Relation James 
Milnor in good health & his standing amongst 
the good people of this place was Abundantly 
shown by their politeness & attention to us & 
we were obliged contrary to our determination to 
Stay A day in the Town 

I neglected to notice Rochester at the canal A 
Town of 3,000 population many Fine Stores & 
Houses give the place an importance that few 
travellers have known equal'd & when we reflect 
that 8 or 10 years ago only A few Solitary 
Houses composed the whole city 

The canal crosses the Genesee River at this 
Town by an aqueduct on 7 arches the tow path 
is completely Forni'd well paved & has A neat 
Iron Railing of abt 600 feet 2 Miles below the 
Town this River has 2 falls — Miles apart of 
50 feet in height at this season the water is 
unusually high & gushes over in considerable 
depth & form A most Beautiful view its high 
Banks narrowing at the bottom until it approach- 
es the next fall increases the Rapidity of the 
current & the Roaring of the water as it falls on 
the Rocks below The Bed of this River or that 
part I have seen of it 3 Miles above & below the 
Town is entirely Rock 

Late in the (iay-on 21st we reach'd Buffalo it 
is situated at the end of Lake Erie our Lodging 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 I [ 

at the lower Side of the Town commanded A fint- 
view of it. Toward the South west we saw di-^- 
tant vessels & no object beyond the water the 
width here is probably wide & it has pre- 

cisely the appearance of the ocean 

22nd our party went to an Indian village the 
Buffalo Tribe in number abt 600 or A small rem- 
nant of them live 5 or 6 miles from the Town of 
Buffalo in A miserable & filthy condition with A 
few exceptions the few that are engaged in agri- 
culture & have cattle live better but many are 
unable to speak english or to enjoy any of the 
comforts of civilized life The internal Broil or 
party Spirit rages Amongst them 'tho less Fierce 
ly than amongst christians 'they have A popular 
old chief ' Red Jacket' who is not [to use the 
words of the Indian who spoke to me of him] 
he not very much good, he get Drunk some time 

this chief rejects every Species of what we 
concieve to be the necessary arts & adheres 
strictly to the old customs by the interference of 
some Benevolent persons A school was estab- 
lish'd in A village for the instruction of the 
children this old chief gave directions to Send 
the Teacher away the General opinion is that at 
his Death which cannot be very distant as he is 
60 years old & intemperate & has no children to 
Succeed him if regulations amongst them admit of 
that course to get A chief. That his party that 
is now most numerous will lose their strength 
with their chief & A System of Education & A 
Knowledge of the arts will abolish all their Sav- 
age customs & they will no longer be A dis- 
tinct people 



12 NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 

we rode 2 miles Further to see Red Jacket he 
was from home not to return untill sun sett His 
wife Invited us into the House [through an in- 
terpreter] A one story Logg House with one 
Room, the furniture A few common chairs A Ta- 
ble 2 Beds on Ruff Board Bed Steads A logg set 
upright with the end scoop'd out to the size of 
A large Bowl for the purpose of pounding corn 
& some pots &c &c those of the Indians I con- 
convers'd with agreed that the only Quality on 
which his popularity Rested was his Skill in the 
councils or as they say Jacket talk well, they 
uniformly call him Jacket as they have no 
great respect for him When his dynasty ends 
Pollard A prudent & Brave man will become 
their chief the excessive badness of the Roads 
prevented our seeing him I had A great curios- 
ity to see him as the Indians say he is A Good 
man he talk well he dont get drunk He is 
said to live well has A good House & many 
cattle wishes to have their children Taught to 
Read and favours intercourse with white people 
& every useful Business as many of the young 
people read and write & others will be sent to 
school by their parents & Instructed by well 
disposed people near them the name of Pollard 
will strengthen & I have no doubt prevail 

I was much pleased with A young man by 
name Lewis Too Gem & left the carriage & oui 
company waiting in the Road cross'd several 
Fields in the Rain & found him mowing which 
he appeared to understand he speaks good Eng- 
lish went to School several years near Philad'a 
'London Grove' he is A fine looking Fellow 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN T824 1 3 

speaks in high terms of Pollard & wish'd me to 
go & see him saying it was only 2 miles & he 
would go with me as all my friends there were 
opposed to going on act of the excessive Badness 
of the Roads I could not urge nor allow them to 
wait for me was therefore obliged to pass on 
without seeing this distinguished Savage 

Lewis was not only civil but Polite he left his 
sythe in the grass to walk to the carriage witli 
me I gave him some money to Buy Books for the 
children & Bade him adieu The lands Belong- 
ing to the Indians of this Settlement is exceed 
ingly fertile & level tho' very little farmed & 
cultivated is capable of making most valuable 
Farms & the part we saw is within 7 miles of the 
termination of the Grand canal 

These unfortunate people are greatly annoy'd 
by A description of whites that are too numer- 
ous every where their Timber & cattle are stolen 
one man told me he lost 2 Horses & had but one 
left he foUow'd A great way but lost track of 
the thief 

we went in the afternoon to Black Rock & 
cross'd the Niagara River & Rode 17 miles by A 
delightful Road by its side the Bank is in no place 
above 10 or 12 feet until you approach near the 
falls. The current Runs 6 miles an hour the 
whole Body of water is in motion Boiling up & 
circles running into one another over the surface 
as if ten thousand Rock below were interupting 
its passage The water is deep of A very 
Green colour & abounds witii Fish 

I have made A sketch of the Falls 

that with my story when I return may give A 



14 NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN I 8 24 

Faint Idea of it but no Image or Story can do it 
Justice we have seen it from every direction be- 
ing detained here several days waiting for the 
Boat that takes us down the Lake we fill up our 
time by seeing all we can To day the 25th rode 
7 as honest miles as I ever seen in our country 
over A Ruff Road in A Dearborn without springs 
to see Tuscarora Indians they have abandon'd 
many or most of their Savage customs & are 
cleanly in their persons & Houses 

I saw & convers'd with Cusick the chief or 
one of the chiefs of this tribe he speaks & Reads 
english perfectly well has been in the principal 
cities in the union was in Philada 2 years ago 
& may be there again within that time he is 
Lame with Rheumatism & 64 years old I invited 
him to come & see me when inour city which he 
engaged to do, he is tall his face is in no respect 
above common except his eyes whicli are rather 
Better than the Indian my after opinion of him 
is that he posesses sagacity & great piety we 
reach'd the village at meeting hour & went 
into their church A one Story Logg Building 
about 20 Feet Square with low Story about 20 
or 30 strangers & 70 Indians composed the 
Group I sat near Cusick «& he continued talk 
ing to myself & 2 others showing & explaining 
the Books on the desk that were printed in In- 
dian & English some words were composed of 
19 letters after A short pause he took A folded 
paper out of his pocket on which A Hymn was 
written in their Language turning to me he re- 
peated the first line in english & said we will 
now worship the great Spirit he Rose & Read 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1 8 24 15 

the Hymn aloud when he took his seat 6 men 
rose on the opposite side of the Room & sang 
with the assistance of the women as well as we 
hear in any of the Churches in perfect time & 
very harmonious Cusock advanced & Rested 
his left hand on the side of the desk & lurn'd 
his closed eye's toward Heaven leaning forward 
implored the mercies of the Great Spirit in the 
most devout & affecting manner with all the 
earnestness of A genuine christian while tears 
fell from his eyes it served to add solemnity to 
the meeting & convinced the audience of his 
ardent devotion his language was like A gentle 
flowing stream with little emphasis until he pro- 
nounc'd the name of Jesus Christ when as if to 
give it more effect he made A full pause & retir'd 
to his seat after the 2nd Hymn he took his po- 
sition by the side of the Desk & began his ser- 
mon which lasted about ^ an hour he spoke 
with great ease in rather A low tone of voice 
tho' sufficient for the Room he rested one hand 
on the desk as before & the other against his 
Body used very little Gesture but with his hand 
from his Rist his manner seem'd full c f mild- 
ness & persuasion & his whole appearance was 
venerable & respectable & very little indeed cor- 
responding with our Ideas of A Savage he re- 
peated the name Jesus Christ with similar em 
phasis & the only words we understood in his 
discourse 

These Indians dress variously some with 
Blankets & Barefoot others had moccasins & A 
piece of Blue Cloth the size of A Blanket witli 
many silver trinkets in their ears & silver or pici- 



l6 NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1S24 

ted Bands an Inch wide Round their hat^ this 
tribe consists of 300 & they have 6,000 acres of 
Land 

This morning 2 Inst, we crossed to the Cana- 
da side in order to witness the prep iration for 
An election that was expected to continue 8 da3S 

The election was open'd by the hi^h Sheriff or 
to use their term A Knight Girt with Sword 
he directed A very lengthy & formal paper to 
be read showing his higli authority seal'd with 
the great seal for the chosing 4 members of the 
Parliament of upper Canada, The people collect 
in Front of the Piazza & make their nominations 
aloud which when seconded are taken down by 
the Sheriff's clerk, when the nominations are 
closed permission is given to the different candi- 
dates to address the people The popular preju- 
dice Runs very strongly in favour of Farmers 

The first that presented himself was an Irish- 
man who had lost none of the Brogue he was 
mounted on A waggon in the crowd & told them 
he follow'd the honorable profession of A mer- 
chant that His interest was deeply connected 
with that of Farmers if farming fail'd his Busi- 
ness would fail also it would therefore be wise & 
prudent to send him to parliament He had iiis 
story written & at the request of the people 
Paddy mounted Piazza all over again The next 
orator was A doctor he promis'd to redress all 
Grievances represented himself to havt- been A 
hero, during the late war against A savage For, 
& an army more savage he need not tell of the 
privations he suffered as A Soldier, that he hud 
left his home & left his lamily that he need no 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAT. IN 1824 17 

tell them of the love he bore them «& the faith- 
fulness with which he would perform all their 
wishes & advocate their cause tho' he might op- 
pose the heads of department or even the Lieu- 
tenant Governor himself so that he retained the 
favor of the people that it was necessary to •send 
to parliament men of talent & energy-, that he was 
not ambitious but his friends had forc'd him to 
be A candidate but what was the peoples wish 
was his wish that ignorance in parliament would 
destroy their hopes & Ruin the country. God 
save the King! God save the people! 

I Believe 6 others address'd the mob they all 
appear'd to me to be men of the humblest order 
to say the least not A man of them was ever de- 
signed by nature to be Legislator 

We left this great wonder of nature for the 
Steam Boat in Ontario & Stop'd on our way at 
the half finish 'd monument of Genl Brock on 
Queenston Hights The monument will he when 
finish'd A curiosity it is made or making of hewn 
stone the Base abt 20 feet square & now 30 feet 
high y^ the height intended 

The view from this spot does credit to the 
taste that selected it for the monument it is the 
highest Ground on the Niagara River & com- 
mands the Finest prospect on both sides the 
River including Queenstown on the Canada & 
Lewistown on the American shores the distant 
country on Both sides the River form A perfect 
picture The harvest fields A Golden oloiir 
though not yet Ripe [7 mo 29th] 

Our passage up Ontario occupi'd 2 days & 2 
nights we were not more than 15 miles from the 



l8 NEW YORK TO MONTREAT. IN TS24 

American shore bul: the Lake to the west was A 
perfect Sea as the eye in that direction could 
reach no object save A Distant Sail of vessels 
that trade on the Lake & I learn'd of one of th-' 
men on Board the Boat that he had lied A line 
of 300 feet without finding Bottom 

As Sackets Harbour is A stoppino^ ijlace for 
mdse & Passengers we were detaint-d there 6 
Hours & employed ourselves in seeing all worth 
attention there 

A fortification Fronting on the Lake forming A 
square from the waters side Buildings of stone 2 
story enclosed 10 or 12 Acres all ground as level 
as A Floor & the most Beautiful Parade ground 
I ever saw A few Brass cannon & morters Ran- 
ged along next the water to command the Lake 
in time o' need 

The preparations during the late war at this 
point were immense, 10 vessels one ship are sunk 
in the Harbour for their preservation & one on 
the stocks 210 feet long & 54 leet wide (over 
which A House is made at the cost of $ 25,000) 
Such was the industry & number of workman 
in thirty days that the Frame was compleat & 
plank'd to the 2nd Deck as it remains & in 33 
days more it would have been floating on Bosom 
of the lake 

I forgot to mention detention at Niagara of 5 
days wating for the Steam Boat down from Og- 
densburgh to Lewistown to perform the voyage 
requires 8 days & is the only means of making 
the Route we had mark'd out 

The Town of Sackets Harbour presents A Ru- 
inous aspect of Deserted and unfinish'd Houses 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1 824 19 

The depreciation of Houses & lots is scarcely 
credible in conversation with an intelligent res- 
ident I learn'd that such as were sold for $3,000 
would not now command 300 or A purchaser at 
any price This town came into existence with 
the war & will follow it to oblivion 

When we Reach'd ogdensburgh where the 
Rapids commence we were desirous to pass down 
the St Lawrence in A Boat rather than take the 
Stage on act of the novelty as well the facility 
of that mode, but were foil'd [no Boats to be 
had] & were obliged to bttake ourselves to 
Stages we Rode A great part of the way by the 
Rivers side & had A fine view of the principal 
Rapids by which had we succeeded in getting A 
Boat we should have been carri'd down at the 
Rate of 20 Miles the hour in perfect safety, we 
got to montreal 8 mo 2nd & were unluckily to 
late for the Steam Boat & obliged to wait 3 days 
for its return as this Town proves to exceed my 
expectations greatly the disapointment has been 
less but for my concern about home, as I had no 
alternative I must submit patiently tho' unhap 
pily & find employment in surveying the place 

The Roman catholic Religion is almost univer- 
sal among the natives & chapels & Seminaries 
for the education of the Priests are numerous 
the Parish church as it is called is the largest & 
ancient is very splendid it is always open for the 
convenience of the Inhabitants who enter at all 
hours to worship & for the remission of tlieir 
sins we went in it many times in Passing & in- 
varibly saw the penitents tliinly scaterM over 
the church performing their devotional exercises. 



20 NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 

Some enter suddenly & fall on their Knees cross 
themselves after an rapid motion of their lips 
for one or two minutes Rise up & Retire the men 
with whips in their hands as from the country or 
laborers in the streets & the women in the con- 
vent attire which leads inevitably to the conclu- 
sion that the more refin'd receive the Benefit of 
Gospel where they will not be interrupted by 
the eye of the Public when the Priest Graciously 
absolves them from sin & they evince their 
gratitude by giving him A fee 

For the convenience of those that confess in 
the church there are 6 to 12 Boxes sufficiently 
large for A chair with A lattice side near which 
the poor sinner kneels in waiting for the Priest 
who at length comes in A side passage with A 
fat & Rudy Face & A measur'd step religion in 
his Garb solemnity in his air & perhaps pride on 
his Brain Takes his seat in the Box & patiently 
hears the tale of woe & kindly Blots it out for 
ever 

This church is to be taken down It stands in 
the Middle of Notre Dame St & A new one 100 
by 150 feet is now Building for which $250,000 
are appropriated it front on the same st opposite 
the present one 

The new church when Finish'd will for Rich- 
ness & elegance exceed any thing of the kind 
this side the Atlantic they have ample means & 
esteem it piety to decorate their churches in the 
highest degree 

All the natives speak French & A large pro- 
portion know little or nothing of English I 
ask'd Questions of the people in the street & in 



NEW YORK TO MONTREAL IN 1824 2 I 

the church & was obliged to resort to the littk 
French I have retain'd to get information. 

Some of the Houses are Large many of i & 2 
Story & generally with outer doors & window 
Shutters of Iron, the streets are narrow & the 
Side walks only sufficient for 2 persons with few 
exceptions the population is about 20,000 inclu- 
ding the suburbs where tlie Houses are log & i 
Story occupi'd by native Canadans who enjoy A 
humble community of their own speak french 
only & have the appearance of Indians, perform 
all the labor whilst the commerce of the place & 
the offices of Government is in the hands of 
strangers 

We saw the convent of the Black nuns passed 
through a part of the House were not allow'd 
to see but 2 or 3 who were of mature age, say 50 
The St Lawrence at the Town is i}4 Mile 
wide & Rapid the ground rises behind the city 
gently about ^ of A mile when it suddenly be- 
comes A mountain & from its top we see dis- 
tinctly the Town the River A fine range of 
meadow & cultivated lowland for miles in extent 
A number of fine Houses between the foot of 
the mountain & the Town that front on the 
River there & A great proportion of the Houses 
in this country are covered with Tin 

End of the manuscript. 



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